Archive for October, 2008

Three Great Men’s Watches

Men aren’t obsessed with fashion, at least not to the extent that women are. Men have more important things in life to worry about than the latest fashion trends. But even if you dont have the time to read the latest issue of GQ, there are a few things you can do to demonstrate fashion sense. The most important thing that all men must own is a great watch.

Mens watches are often underrated accessories. They have become more than just instruments to tell time, they are reflections of one’s personality . A quality watch is the quickest way of emitting a confident, successful image. Anyone can purchase a bunch of inexpensive Timex watches (which by the way are great men’s wristwatches, especially for sports) throughout their life but what they should do instead is invest in one great timepiece that will last a lifetime.

A watch is an important accessory that every man needs. Put away those gold chains and thumb-rings boys, we do not need to decorate ourselves like Christmas trees . With watches, you get what you pay for so purchase the most expensive watch you can afford. Below are three great men’s wristwatches, in three separate price ranges.

Shop men's luxury watches at Overstock.com

MEN’S BULOVA MARINE STAR

With styles for every lifestyle demand, the Bulova brand features dress, career, casual and sport wrist watches for men, including high-performance Marine Star® sport watches, precision chronographs and 14-karat gold watches for men. Many Bulova men’s wristwatches offer water resistance from 30 meters to 200 meters (100 feet to 660 feet), stainless steel cases and bracelets, scratch-resistant mineral crystals and genuine leather straps. Diamond watches feature hand-set diamonds, while crystal styles use only genuine Swarovski® crystals.

Time For a New Wristwatch?

You might think you don’t need one, but the right timepiece can make a statement.

What is it that makes men choose a wristwatch? Is it the desire to be on time? Or is it about making a style statement?

What is it for you? A more mature individual still uses it specifically to tell time, but the younger generation uses it more as a fashion accessory.

Although cell phones and PDAs might make watches seem antiquated, the mechanisms in men’s wristwatches these days are lasting relics of human ingenuity.

Today, men have choices. There are classic designs with simple, no-frills dials and hyper-modern designs with multiple features. There are watches for everyday wear, sporty watches designed to withstand the elements and luxury watches made of precious metals and encrusted with jewels. And although some sought-after brands can run for thousands of dollars, you don’t have to break the bank to own something beautiful and long-lasting.

When searching for a new wristwatch, look for a strong glass covering. Sapphire crystals are the hardest crystals available, and they’re more scratch- and break-resistant than others.

You also want to consider the movement. Mechanical movement tends to be more precise, but it’s also more expensive. Rolex and Cartier are known for their mechanical movement watches.

Quartz movement is battery-operated. Seiko and Citizen make reliable quartz movement watches and Bulova is known for reliability and bold design.

The material used also is important. Surgical stainless steel will not rust and pit like base metals. Although gold plating can flake and peel, a method known as ion fusing is a way to chemically bond metals to prevent this problem.

Finally, consider how the watch will fit into your lifestyle. If you’re a suit-and-tie man, look for something more formal. If you enjoy sports and outdoor activities, durability is important. But no matter what, you should like the way it looks.

After all, you’re going to be looking at it.

Source: “The Watch” by Gene Stone men’s wristwatch.com

Understanding Common Watch Types

Before you decide which watch to get, it is helpful to understand some of the common types of watches available here at Men’s Wristwatches.

All watches can be separated very broadly into two categories: mechanical watches and quartz watches.

Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches include both automatic-wind and manual-wind. They consist of parts with no electronic components.  Energy is stored in the mainspring and is slowly released through the gear trains.  The energy is eventually transmitted to the escapement mechanism responsible for time regulation.

Automatic Watches

This type of watch is wound by the wrist movement of the wearer.  An automatic watch is self winding and does not require a battery.  It’s important to note that automatic watches will stop if not worn for an extended period of time (some as little as a couple days).

Manual Watches

These watches are similar in the sense that they don’t need a battery.  However the wearer must wind it manually.  A Mechanical watch is generally the most expensive of the three because it consists of many more parts and requires more time and expertise to assemble.

Quartz Watches

This type of watch is powered by a  battery and does not require manual winding.  They get their name from the quartz crystal in the watch.  The energy from a small battery in the watch causes the quartz crystal to vibrate.  A small computer chip then translates the vibrations into pulses, that drive a stepping motor, and causes the gears to move and make the hands turn.

Chronograph Watches

Chronographs have a built in stop watch function.  The watches generally have 2-3 sub dials displaying the minute, hour, and seconds.  Although most people don’t use the chronograph features, in some cases these watches look more stylish and sophisticated.  And that’s what we want here at Men’s Wristwatch!

TAG HEUER, winner of the category “Best Chronograph” with the GC Caliper Calibre 36 in Mexico

For the second time in Mexico more than 20 of the most coveted brands of high-end watches such as TAG Heuer, Rolex, Mont Blanc, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet, Cartier, Gérald Genta, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and more, got together during the 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th of September in the Hotel Four Season in Mexico to unveil to clients, media and VIP consumers their different collections as well as their best timepieces.

During these three days more than 2,300 people and over 300 reporters attended the presentations and conferences given by important watchmakers of the different brands participating. Thomas Houlon, Brand director of TAG Heuer, came from Switzerland and gave a complete presentation on TAG Heuer and Innovation, in which we had full attendance.

During the event`s closing dinner, a jury comprised by experts in watchmaking from Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Asia, rewarded TAG Heuer, winner of the Category “Best Chronograph” with the Grand Carrera Caliper caliber 36, against Audemars Piguet and Mont Blanc.